Solar Foods advances Solein commercialization with regulatory approval and new funding
Solar Foods has secured a positive EFSA safety opinion for its Solein protein and €89.1M in funding, accelerating the path to EU market entry and the final investment decision for its large-scale Factory 02.
Solar Foods has obtained a positive safety opinion from the European Food Safety Authority for its Solein protein. The Finnish food tech company also secured €89.1 million in funding from Business Finland to advance its planned Factory 02 toward a final investment decision. The regulatory milestone is expected to accelerate offtake negotiations and remove uncertainty for commercial partners.
Completion of the funding package and binding customer agreements are prerequisites for the final investment decision on the Lappeenranta facility. EFSA's Panel on Nutrition, Novel Foods and Food Allergens concluded that Solein raised no safety or genotoxicity concerns under its proposed conditions of use. The EU Commission will now draft an implementing act to incorporate Solein into the novel food catalogue, with approval expected to take seven to nine months.
Solein production and sustainability credentials
Solein is a carbon-negative protein produced via gas fermentation. Microbes are fed carbon dioxide, hydrogen, and oxygen instead of sugar. The process is independent of agricultural land, weather, and climate.
The result is a deep-yellow powder marketed as 'protein from thin air'. It has a mild flavour and is described as the most sustainable protein on Earth. Its production generates just 1% of the greenhouse gases emitted by meat and 20% of those from plant proteins. The system can be scaled for year-round supply in diverse environments, from deserts to the Arctic and even outer space.
Solein's nutritional profile is high in protein and includes other beneficial components. The powder provides iron, fibre, and B vitamins.
| Nutrient Component | Proportion |
|---|---|
| Complete Protein | 78% |
| Fat | 6% |
| Dietary Fibre | 10% |
Market expansion and customer commitments
Solein is already cleared for sale in Singapore and the United States. In Singapore, it is approved for use in ice cream and dessert products via a partnership with Ajinomoto's Atlr.72 brand. In the US, it is part of Ambrosia Collective's protein powders under the Planta nutrition brand.
The company has secured several supply agreements. Solar Foods signed a deal worth up to €500,000 with Italy’s KelpEat for 27 tonnes of Solein through the first half of 2028. Other partnerships are with Superb Food, Fermenta, and Pothos's PRVL brand.
Finnish food giant Fazer, an investor in Solar Foods, launched a Solein-powered snack bar in Singapore in 2024 via its Taste the Future brand. Fazer trialled a snack and protein oat milks in the US last year and is preparing to launch Solein-powered products in Europe next year. Heli Anttila, VP of research and product development at Fazer Group, called Solein one of Finland’s most exciting food innovations. Anttila stated that the EFSA opinion is a significant milestone and that Solein can open new opportunities for the Finnish food industry and exports.
Commercial timeline and growth targets
Solar Foods' current demonstration plant, Factory 01 in Vantaa, is set to produce 230 tonnes of Solein this year. The much larger Factory 02 is expected to begin operations in 2028. It is slated to have an annual capacity of 12,800 tonnes.
The total addressable market for Solein is anticipated to be substantial. It is projected to reach €7 billion in Europe and €11 billion in the US by 2030. Solar Foods has also joined the Deep Space Food Consortium. The final investment decision on the Lappeenranta facility remains pending the completion of the funding package and binding customer agreements.
